South Fulton politicos making a bad situation worse
Years of acrimony and in some cases outright animosity between north and south Fulton County have already forced a redrawing of the map of Georgia.
A handful of new cities — Sandy Springs, Milton, Johns Creek — have been incorporated in the last few years largely because north Fulton citizens wanted to snip ties with Fulton County government in Atlanta.
Now, encouraged by that success, they want to make the separation complete by cutting Fulton County in half and creating a brand new Milton County in the northern section. And because the issue involves the unholy trinity of race, class and partisan politics, it has sometimes brought out the worst in people.
South Fulton, which is largely black, mostly Democratic and less affluent, holds the balance of power because of its larger population base. North Fulton, by contrast, is largely white, prosperous and Republican. Almost every important issue to come before county leaders is filtered through those two perspectives, with each side feeling itself ill-used by the other.
Personally, I think the drive to create Milton County is foolish and in some ways vindictive. We’ve already got 159 counties, more than any state other than Texas. And with the multitude of counties and cities in metro Atlanta, the region is already paralyzed in trying to deal with issues that cross legal boundaries.
However, the frustration of north Fulton residents is also understandable. Because south Fulton basically controls county government, the majority on the County Commission has tended to dismiss even legitimate concerns of north Fulton voters and leaders. North Fulton leaders complain that they are treated by south Fulton as captive taxpayers, and too often they’re right.
The often petty, even self-destructive nature of the feuding between the two communities is on view in the current controversy involving Fulton County Commissioner Lynne Riley, who represents north Fulton.
Riley also serves as chairman of a legislative advisory committee created to study the feasibility of Milton County.
To some in south Fulton, that’s a conflict of interest bordering on treason. Six south Fulton legislators have filed a complaint with the county ethics board, demanding an investigation and calling for Riley to resign. Bill Edwards, a south Fulton commissioner, went so far as to complain that “it’s like having a terrorist in Congress.”
That’s nonsense. Edwards may not like it, but Riley’s involvement in the Milton County effort accurately reflects the opinions and wishes of her constituents. It is an abuse of the county ethics process to try to use it to silence Riley on a political matter.
In fact, it’s hard to understand what Edwards and his supporters are trying to accomplish. Is their action likely to make north Fulton feel more like part of the county or more intent on going its own way? Does it build a bridge or burn a bridge? In every way I can think of, the ethics charge further poisons the atmosphere and adds to the fervor behind creation of Milton County.
Even if Riley were to resign from office, the person who replaced her would be even more committed to a permanent break with Fulton County. If Edwards and other south Fulton leaders want to preserve a unified Fulton County, as they should, they need a better battle plan than dismissing their neighbors’ anger as illegitimate. They’ve been trying that strategy for the last 10 to 15 years, and it’s a loser.
So far, Riley is refusing to cooperate with an ethics board investigation. That has led ethics board chairman Don Edwards (no relation to the commissioner) to talk of seeking a subpoena if necessary to compel her to testify.
“We have an obligation to determine whether there is a violation,” Edwards said last week.
However, compelling the testimony of an elected official about legitimate political activity is a bad idea, and if carried out it is guaranteed to drive the wedge between north and south Fulton still deeper.
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89 comments Add your comment
Finn McCool
August 25th, 2009
11:42 am
North Fulton should break off and create a new county…call it McCool County!
Truth
August 25th, 2009
11:43 am
Actually a pretty good read, Jay.
stands for decibels
August 25th, 2009
11:48 am
North Fulton should break off and create a new county…call it Ingrate Whites County!
Fried yonder tomato.
TnGelding
August 25th, 2009
11:49 am
Let them have what they want. Then they won’t have any excuses. Let Fulton sink or swim on its own. It’s the logical thing to do.
Finn McCool
August 25th, 2009
11:52 am
The southern end should rename it Obama County
ahhhhh! wingnuts would blow gaskets across the land.
I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator :-) You Whine :-(
August 25th, 2009
11:54 am
Yeah and let’s cut the US in half too.
Cast off Moonbattica into the fever swamp where it belongs.
Finn McCool
August 25th, 2009
11:57 am
Those wingnuts who get tired of MLK this and MLK that? hehehehe
Guess what name your going to see on everything for the rest of your lives?
rub it in, rub salt in those wounds…
Doggone/GA
August 25th, 2009
11:59 am
Here’s the questions that occur to me: Would the vote to split have to be voted on by the whole county? If it would, and South Fulton has a larger voter base, how does North Fulton expect to win that vote?
Georgia 1st
August 25th, 2009
12:00 pm
Bookman, I live in south Fulton (old Campbell county). I think you and most people get it mixed up. Atlanta is NOT south Fulton. Most of this county is NOT south Fulton. South Fulton only has two Marta bus routes, 2 Marta stations (consider that we can’t use the Airport station), only one hospital and those of us in Union City, Fairburn, Palmetto and Chatt Hills must go to neighboring counties because our hospital is farther away and our doctors prefer not to use the South Fulton Medical Center…I wish those up north would check out the services in College Park, Union City, East Point and Palmetto. They would see that south Fulton is not much different from North Fulton.
Public Option or No Bill
August 25th, 2009
12:01 pm
The Ethics Board in Georgia is the most toothless joke on planet earth.
Normal
August 25th, 2009
12:02 pm
I lived in East Point back in the 70s…Liked it, too…But now I’d rather live in h-ll than live in Fulton county, north or south.
pat
August 25th, 2009
12:02 pm
Let there be a Milton county and let Fulton step up and make itself successful or sink.
The south only wants the north because the north is footing the bill for the south. As long as the north supports the south, there will be no need for the south to clean up it’s act and become prosperous. Let the south do for them seleve with out the crutch of the north. Everybody will be better for it.
Public Option or No Bill
August 25th, 2009
12:03 pm
I think what Georgia first is distinguishing is South Atlanta from what she or he correctly defines as South Fulton.
RealityKing
August 25th, 2009
12:03 pm
Acrimony, animosity, the unholy trinity of race, class and partisan politics, foolishness, vindictive and paralyzing. All this in one little county seat. And yet some still dubiously believe that the federal government is different, capable of controlling American’s healthcare cost while offering the same quality as private enterprises. Even though it has yet to do so in any other format.
USinUK
August 25th, 2009
12:05 pm
Mrs. G –
I returned from a meeting to your Wonder Blunder comment and promptly spit tea all over my screen … I bow to your brilliance!
ABM –
“You’d also have to consider removing Jus Soli from the Constitution too. Many of them come here just to have children so their kids will be Americans.”
I have absolutely no problem with that – not all countries currently have it (the one I currently reside in doesn’t – and, frankly, most of the Brits I know are shocked that America does) …
http://askville.amazon.com/United-States-countries-offer-citizenship-birth-aka-birthright/AnswerViewer.do?requestId=7563352
heck, I’d even be happy with a modified jus soli – (say, the parents have to prove residency some particular length of time, if not citizenship)
AmVet
August 25th, 2009
12:05 pm
“Yeah and let’s cut the US in half too.”
So The New Confederated States of America could be borrow brazillions of dollars, never to be repaid and become yet another massive burden on the World Monetary Fund?
OK…
Public Option or No Bill
August 25th, 2009
12:06 pm
“South” would include Atlanta South of Buckhead up to South Fulton I suppose. There has been a lot of talk of Buckhead forming its own separate government for years for a lot of the same reasons Jay outlined with North Fulton.
USinUK
August 25th, 2009
12:08 pm
“Cast off Moonbattica into the fever swamp where it belongs”
hahaha … considering that the majority if “moonbattica” are net producers of tax revenue and that “wingnutteria” are net recipients of tax revenue, that would work JUST FINE with most bluestaters if you guys wanted to ride off into the sunset … more $$$ for them.
demwit
August 25th, 2009
12:10 pm
Fulton county should just hold a referendum.., without checking voter ids of course.
Hef
August 25th, 2009
12:10 pm
Ga 1st- I live just a rocks throw from the airport(west).Moved there a year ago(thought I got a steal on a home), are you kidding “not much different”? Moved from Cumming area and I’m still looking for an improvement in any area! I put my home on the market in may-movin back north.
stands for decibels
August 25th, 2009
12:14 pm
hahaha … considering that the majority if “moonbattica” are net producers of tax revenue and that “wingnutteria” are net recipients of tax revenue, that would work JUST FINE with most bluestaters if you guys wanted to ride off into the sunset … more $$$ for them.
I’ve been through this with Whiner before. You’re discounting the value of the stuff those liberals keep God-fearin’ folk from minin’ and harvestin’ and drillin’.
You add the re institutionalization of slavery into the mix, and who knows what the Libertarian States of JeebusLand could bring to the party.
Disgusted
August 25th, 2009
12:24 pm
As a resident of north Fulton, I’ve seen only an increase in my taxes as a result of the urbanization of the county. What little has been reduced in county taxes has been eaten up and then some by city taxes. The Fulton County Commission is a shell as it is. Almost all the county consists of cities with their own governments.
I’ve watched many county commission meetings on cable TV. It’s like watching various animals in a zoo converge. There’s no cohesiveness there. Everybody has a little agenda, from Emma Darnell and Edwards on one side to Tom Lowe looking out for the realtors and the developers and Riley touting all things Republican. In fact, we already have two counties. Even the property tax rates differ, depending on whether it’s south Fulton or north Fulton.
To quote loosely the Godfather in Puzo’s novel, how did we get to this pass? The main problem arose because of zoning decisions made years ago, decisions in which north Fulton residents felt disadvantaged by the preponderance of south Fulton commission members. Anybody who says the split was about taxes is simply misinformed. No person in the cities of Johns Creek or Sandy Springs or Roswell can now claim to be paying lower taxes than he/she paid before. It’s all about local control, not taxes. Race and political party affiliation are only the backdrop for the real issue.
So go ahead and create Milton County. That won’t solve any of the problems, but it might make some north Fulton residents feel better. The problems will remain.
Take it Up the Backside
August 25th, 2009
12:25 pm
JB wrote “creating a brand new Milton County in the northern section”
Sorry Jay, I would not consider Milton a ‘brand new county” seeing as at one time it was there.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milton_County,_Georgia
“Milton County was a county of the U.S. state of Georgia from 1857 to 1931. It was created on 18 December 1857 from parts of northeastern Cobb, southeastern Cherokee, and southwestern Forsyth counties. Alpharetta was the county seat until the end of 1931, when Milton was merged with Fulton County to save it from bankruptcy during the Great Depression.[1] At that time, Campbell County, which had already gone bankrupt, was also ceded to Fulton, giving it its 70-mile (110 km) long irregular shape along the Chattahoochee River.”
AmVet
August 25th, 2009
12:26 pm
USinUK, the more I think about The New Confederate States of America, the more I like it.
And think of the joy they would have!
NO taxes!
NO government telling them what to do!
God and guns on every corner!
Conservative Arts “degrees”!
One “Big Tent” revival where there would be none of Them People, no uppity wimmen and no Mexicalis or Mooslims. OK, a few token Jews…
But without the liberals, progressives, independents, Greens, etc… they would have a veritable Utopian society!
Praise the Lord!
Brad Steel
August 25th, 2009
12:36 pm
Well if they split it up at least you’d think they could spend some time doing something for their constituents rather than just fighting between the two groups.
An ethics probe – what a complete waste of time and energy. drop it and do something worthwhile.
DeKalb Conservative
August 25th, 2009
12:39 pm
Any chance norther DeKalb could get in on this too?
In all seriousness, I was looking at purchasing my first home within the last year. I looked at many places in Fulton and DeKalb country. With taxes almost double in Fulton, for a smaller home and the prospect that taxes would go higher (they did) and crime would continue to rise (it did), we choose DeKalb.
An earlier responder commented there wasn’t alot of MARTA access in South Fulton–I think not having alot of MARTA access in North Fulton would be something the residents of that area would actually embrace.
Zell
August 25th, 2009
12:40 pm
They should settle things the old-fashion way, with a duel.
Normal
August 25th, 2009
12:40 pm
Geez, AmVet…I don’t think I’d look good in butternut…just visualizin’
Sherman V. Lee
August 25th, 2009
12:41 pm
I think they should square off with cannons across the Chattahoochee.
Zip
August 25th, 2009
12:45 pm
This just mirrors what is happening in the rest of our country right now. Those in power want to soak the rich to pay for their vote buying schemes. I’m by now means rich but I am certainly tired of politicians taking my hard earned money and spending it on special interest groups. Thankfully, the country is starting to wake up.
Taxpayer
August 25th, 2009
12:45 pm
I heard that folks up in Milton started complaining about city taxes and government before they even got the ink dried on their new city paperwork. Let ‘em whine, or move, or convince enough like-minded folks to move in and change the balance of power.
Take it Up the Backside
August 25th, 2009
12:47 pm
Over five thousand years ago, Moses said to the children of Israel ” pick up your shovel, mount your a$$es and camels, and I will lead you to the promised land “.
Nearly 75 years ago, Roosevelt ( FDR ) said, ” Lay down your shovels, sit on your a$$es, and light up a camel; this is the promised land”.
Now Obama has stolen your shovel , taxed your a$$es, raised the price of camels, and mortgaged the promised land.
God help us.
getalife
August 25th, 2009
12:52 pm
Obama destroyed Fulton County.
Bosch
August 25th, 2009
12:55 pm
AmVet,
A while back, I was messin’ around with Dave R – whom I am actually convinced thought I was for real on his side – it was during all the secession non-sense – anyway he was convinced that a country very similar to what you just described would be the ideal – how nothing would ever go wrong in his conservative Wunderland.
Bosch
August 25th, 2009
12:58 pm
Oh and AmVet,
It’s not “Praise the Lord” it’s “So say we all.”
Matilda
August 25th, 2009
1:00 pm
AmVet (12:26), you forgot va-jay-jay trees growing wild everywhere! haha!
As a North Fulton homeowner, I would vote to remain part of Fulton County. I live in a modest subdivision surrounded by the uber-privileged, and as a parent, interact with these folks regularly. Yes, this IS about class to them. (Not race so much as money, from what I’ve seen.) I don’t think most of these people have a grasp on the reality of the world beyond their finely-landscaped bubble, and I’m not comfortable putting even MORE of them in power. (Not that I don’t LOVE my Congressman.. okay, so I don’t.) I have no complaints about my county-provided services, my water is clean, the libraries are open, and our schools are terrific. These separationists just LOOOOOVE to whine and moan about what “those people” are doing, but I don’t see their cushy lifestyles suffering at all, unless you think finding expensive merchandise on sale due to recessionary discounts is suffering.
Doggone/GA
August 25th, 2009
1:03 pm
“Obama destroyed Fulton County.”
And it only took him 8 months to do it. What a MAN!
Joey
August 25th, 2009
1:03 pm
Some things that I have wondered about for years, but never pursued mostly because I was born, raised and live in Gwinnett:
How many Fulton County Commissioners live within the City of Atlanta?
Is the City of Atlanta perhaps over represented in the Commission?
Is the South Fulton problem really a middle Fulton problem?
FrankLeeDarling
August 25th, 2009
1:06 pm
Jay,will any of this allow metro Atlanta to keep more of the tax revenue it generates.
Normal
August 25th, 2009
1:07 pm
Correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t Fulton County have the highest tax rate of all other Georgia Counties, and doesn’t most of that tax go to the City of Atlanta?
AmVet
August 25th, 2009
1:09 pm
“So say we all”.
I like it, Bosch. Sounds kinda O’Reillyish.
I could of course, make up a similar scenario for the libs, but hey, it’s not MY job to be the surrogate humorist for the comedically challenged and wildly witless neo-conned…
On topic now, one of the greatest and I believe somewhat unique challenges facing Atlanta is the amazing amount of hyper-parochialism here.
Cross the river into Cobb and you can almost feel it.
Yes, we all pretend that we’re one big community in some respects, but given the history of trying to keep Those People out of the northwestern suburbs especially, is there any wonder that so little of import actually gets done around here?
This unplanned, sprawling metropolitan area, which has always had an inferiority complex, seems to be experiencing the polar opposite of the revitalized Rust Belt cities.
And it is truly a shame, as it is the very epicenter of civil rights and there is so much more it could become…
I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator (-: You Whine )-:
August 25th, 2009
1:13 pm
The City of Atlanta, despite having the highest tax rates in most of the entire United States, is a federal tax receiving basket case.
Just look at Cobb County, a demographic mirror image of North Fulton with a lower average per capita income, we got a triple AAA bond rating and a balanced budget.
Why do you think the lib whines? How will Atlanta ever survive with no one left to tax?
Kamchak
August 25th, 2009
1:14 pm
Normal
Your 10:03 downstairs on a possible potato chip shortage–brilliant. Just sayin’
I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator (-: You Whine )-:
August 25th, 2009
1:17 pm
Obama Weekly Approval Average Now 52%, a New Low, Approval among seniors, upper-income Americans has fallen below 50%
Ride those coat tails, dimocrats.
Neal Horsley
August 25th, 2009
1:18 pm
Moses said to the children of Israel ” pick up your shovel, mount your a$$es and camels
And mount them I did!
Matilda
August 25th, 2009
1:20 pm
Normal, it’s our proximity to the City of Atlanta, for all it’s flaws, that hold our property values up and make the suburbs tolerable. Well, to an extent. As long as we take time to get into town now and again to dine at a restaurant that’s not a chain, or take in a show that’s not mainstream Hollywood puke, see a real-live big-league ballgame, or to enjoy the eclectic vibrance of a festival or parade.
No one has offered me anything convincing as to why I should vote for the creation of a new Milton County. Zip. Notta. Whining about their *boo hoo* tax burden doesn’t count. I pay taxes too; why do they think they’re the only ones? Geez.
Georgia 1st
August 25th, 2009
1:49 pm
Hef – I was attempting to say that “south” Fulton doesn’t seem to get any of North Fulton’s money since our services aren’t the most outstanding. However, most of those things that I complain about don’t come from the Fulton county comission but other agencies set up by this fine state legislature.
FYi, only one comissioner on the board lives in south Fulton and that’s Bill Edwards. Emma Darnell lives in the city of atlanta but closer to the Cascade area.
We need to stick w/ facts.
RollerGirl
August 25th, 2009
1:50 pm
It’s not about race except to those racist blacks on the fulton commission and the “gimme” crowd that elect them. There are plenty of professional blacks, latinos, asians, Indians in north fulton who are sick and tired of footing the bill for the “Grady lifestyle”.
According to liberals, the entire damn world should revolve around the poor..well, heres a clue..it doesn’t!
Georgia 1st
August 25th, 2009
1:52 pm
RollerGirl…apparently you don’t watch the commission meeting. I do and I haven’t heard anything racist. You will always hear comissioner darnell and boxill standing up for children, seniors and the poor regardless of race or class.
RollerGirl
August 25th, 2009
1:53 pm
And while I’m at it..Gov. Patterson of NY..you are despised NOT because you are black, and NOT because you are blind. You are despised, even in your own party, because you are the single most INEPT politician on the planet.